Macs Medical Records

WATCH.


Here's the transcript:
Jim Lehrer: And finally, for the record, you have not lost your desire to be President of the United States have you?
McCain: Well, uh, certainly it's been put in deep cold storage
Lehrer: But you haven't lost it?
McCain: Well, in 2004 I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008 I think i might be ready to go down to the Old Soldiers Home and await the cavalry charge there.

And there you have it, straight from the horse's mouth, John McCain himself, at least in 2000 thought that he would be too old to run in the 2008 election. Kudos have to go to Crooks & Liars for digging up that gem.

According to a report by PollingReport.com, 24% of those polled were "somewhat uncomfortable" with having "Someone entering office as president of the United States at age 72". This number dwarfs the 2 others, with only 9% "somewhat uncomfortable" with having "a woman president of the United States" and only 6% "somewhat uncomfortable" with "an African-American president of the United States".

This is all coming out in the wake of McCain releasing his medical records... sorta. McCain has delayed releasing his medical records for over a year now, consistently blaming his doctors. And now they are set to release today, the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, which he and his aides hope will allow for the least amount of press coverage, a trick he probably picked up from the Bush Administration. The LA Times reported, "By addressing the health issue on the eve of a long holiday weekend, McCain's campaign staff said privately, they hoped to get past it and to turn public attention elsewhere as the campaign progresses." Even this so called "release" of information is barely that, here are the restrictions for it:
* only a small, select group of reporters will have access to the records in a secure room in Phoenix, AZ
* access is limited to only three hours, between 7 and 10 AM on Friday
* no copying of the records is permitted

According to an LA Times article,

John McCain is in good health despite a 15-year history of skin cancers, including a minor case as recently as February, and bouts with precancerous polyps in his colon, cysts in his kidney and stones in his bladder, his doctors said Friday. McCain, 71, takes medications for elevated cholesterol and prevention of kidney stones, as well as an occasional pill to help him sleep, a panel of doctors said during a 45-minute news conference. The presumed Republican presidential nominee also suffers minor bouts of vertigo when he abruptly rises from a chair, though the condition is not an indication of any heart condition or precursor to a stroke, the doctors said.

It is admirable that McCain has gone to such lengths to prove his "healthiness" (or lack thereof I would argue...), Bill did no such thing when he was running for reelection, although Dole did.

Maybe this won't play into the election as much as everyone thinks it will, but for the sake of the nation lets hope that IF (God, forbid) McCain does end up becoming President, he won't have any serious health issues or other such complications.